Automatic clutch



July 6. 1937. 'H PIKE" V 2,086,364.

AUTOMATIC CLUTCH Filed Feb. 14, 1931 fienry'loydfzite ATTORNEY UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE 2 ,086,364 AUTOMATIC CLUTCH Henry Loyd Pike,Hampton, Va., assignor. by

mesnc assignments, to Bendix Products Corporation, South Bend, Ind., acorporation of Indiana Application February 14, 1931, Serial No. 515,88612 Claims. (CL 192-.01)

This invention relates to motor driven vehicles and has especialreference to means for control ling the clutch, an object of theinvention being to provide means operated simultaneously with theoperation of the engine to release the clutch and hold the same inreleased position while the engine is idling. and to reengage the clutchsimultaneously with the operation of the throttle valve, and thus renderit unnecessary to manipucommunication being controlled by means of acheck valve 34.

The ports 21 and 28 are controlled by a slide 35 having ports 36 and 31which are adapted to be moved into and out of register with the ports21. and 28 respectively. A rod 38 extends from the slide 35 and haspivotal connection with a pedal 39, a spring 40 acting to yieldinglyresist movement of the rod in one direction. It is also ohm late theusual clutch pedal (which if desired may vious that the driver mayoperate the slide and be eliminated) either for placing the vehicle inthrottle concurrently or successively; this in view motion, or forshifting gears in traflic, or in of the fact that the pedal 39 isfloating and bodily ascending grades. movable; in short. with themechanism disclosed With the above and other objects in view, the theoperation of the clutch may be synchronized I5 invention furtherincludes the following novel with that of the throttle to simulate aconvenfeatures and details of construction, to be heretional manualoperation of the clutch pedal and inafter more fully described.illustrated in the throttle. A rod 4| has one of its ends pivotallyaccompanying drawing and' pointed out in the connected with the footpedal 33 while the other appended claims. end of this rod is pivotallyconnected with an arm In the drawing: 42 provided upon the throttlevalve 43. A spring Figure 1 is a fragmentary view partly in ele- 44 alsoyieldingly resists movement of the rod vatlon and partly in section,showing a portion H in one direction. of a motor driven vehicle with theinvention apwith the parts in the position shown in Figure plied and theclutch in released position. 1 when the engine is started. a suction,will be 35 Figure 2 is a like view with the clutch in enprovided in thecylinder at one side of the plsgazed position. ton i3, and the latterwill be moved to swing the Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view arm23 upward and release the clutch. For this through a modified form ofsuction cylinder. purpose, the ports 21 and are in register. TheReferring to the drawing in detail wherein gears may then be shiftedinto low speed, and o like characters of reference denote correspondasthe pedal 39 is depressed to open the throttle 0 log parts. thereference character ill indicates a and accelerate the speed of theengine, the slide portion of an engine. the intake manifold of will bemoved simultaneously until the ports which is indicated at [2. Thenumeral l3 rep- 28 and 31 are in register so that the cylinder 18resents a portion of the floor of the vehicle and will be bled and theclutch will reengage under 35 (4 the clutch housing, while (5 representsthe the action of its spring. As soon as pressure is 35 clutch pedalwhich is pivotally mounted as at relieved from the pedal 39. thecylinder [8 will l6, andis operatlvely connected with the clutch asagain be in communication with the exhaust shown at H. manifold of theengine through the ports 21 and The reference character 18 represents acylin- 36 so that further shifting of the transmission der which issuitably attached beneath the floor gears may be effected. 40

l3 and houses a movable member or piston i9. Due to the check valve 34 avacuum will be A stem 20 extends from the piston 13 throughmaintained'ln the tank 33, so that should it be one end of the cylinderand has attached thereto necessary or desirable to disengage the clutcha cable 2l which passes around a guide pulley when ascending a gradesufliclent suction will be 22, and is connected with an arm 23 rigidwith provided to operate the plswn 45 the clutch pedal (5. The inventionmakes it possible for a driver to Communicating with the other end ofthe cyltake his car through heavy traflic withouttaking lnder I8 is apipe 24 and this pipe is provided his foot fromlthe pedal 39 whichcontrols the with branches 25 and 26 which are in communithrottle valve.and he may operate this valve incation with ports 21 and 28respectively, prodependently of the slide 35 or vice versa'.

vided in a valve casing 29. The port 28 is open to the atmosphere whilethe port 21 is in communlcatlon with a vacuum tank 30, by means of apipe 3!. A pipe 32 provides communication between the tank 30 and theintake manifold Ii,

In .Figure 3. a diaphragm 45 is substituted for the piston is. theoperation being the same.

The invention is susceptible of various changes in its form, proportionsand minor details of construction and the right is. herein reserved tooperable for any one of member and the throttle.

name such changes as properly fall within the scope of the appendedclaims.

Having described the invention what ls cla.imed' 1. In a motor operatedvehicle including an engine and a clutch for connecting the engine withthe drive shalt oi the automobile, suction controlled means operatlvelyconnected with the clutch and the intake manifold of the engine tooperate the clutch, ioot operated means to control the operation of thesuction operated means, and means connecting the ioot operated meanswith the throttle valve of the engine to operate said throttle valvesimultaneously with or independently of the clutch.

2. In an automotive vehicle provided with a clutch and aninternal-combustion engine having a throttle, power means for operatingthe clutch, a control valve for said power means, and common meansforindependently, concurrently or successively operating the throttle andcontrol valve.

3. In an automotive vehicle provided-with a clutch and aninternal-combustion engine having a throttle, power means for operatingthe clutch, a control valve for said power means, and a manuallyoperable member positively interconnecting the throttle and valve andselectively independent, concurrent or successive operations of saidthrottle and valve to thereby synchronize, at the will of the driver,the speed of the engine and the operation of the clutch.

4. Control mechanism for an automotive vehlcle provided with aninternal-combustion engine, a throttle therefor, and a clutch, andcomprising in combination therewith power operated means ior operatingthe clutch, said means com; and valve means or. and means, operable bythe toot oi the'driver, for selectively controlling either the Diltation ot'the throttle, or the power means, member accessible to thedriver, means interconnecting said manuallyoperable member and saidvalve, and other means interco said manually operable provided with ameans for operat- 6. In an automotive vehicle clutch and a throttle,power ing the clutch, a control valve tor.said power means, a footoperated -member, a link means interconnecting said member and throttle,and other link means interconnecting said member and valve. said partsbeing so constructed and arranged that the throttle and valve may beina. throttle, clutch, said power means comprising a control valve,

8. In an automotive vehicle provided with a clutch and aninternal-combustion engine having a. throttle, power means for operatingthe clutch, said Power means comprising a control valve, and. means foroperating the throttle and valve comprising a manually operable bodilyand angularly movable member.

9. In an automotive vehicle provided with a clutch and aninternal-combustlon' engine having a throttle, power means for operatingthe clutch, said power means comprising a control valve, and means foroperating the throttle and valve comprising an angularly movable,manually operable and slidably mounted member connected at one end tothe throttle and at its other end to the valve.

10. In an automotive vehicle provided with a clutch and aninternal-combustion engine having a throttle, power means for operatingthe clutch, said power means comprising a control valve, and means foroperating the throttle and valve comprising treadle means, the 'toeportion of which is operable to actuate the throttle and the heelportion of which is simultaneously oper- 11. In an automotive vehicleprovided a clutch and an internal-combustion engine havpower means foroperating the valve, and means for operating the throttle and valvecomprising a one-piece, manually operable member pivotally movable aboutits upper end to eflfect a clutchdlsengaging operation of the valve andbodily movable to open the throttle a'nd eftect a c1utch eng i goperation of the valve.

- 12. In an automotive vehicle provided with a clutch, an enginethrottle, power means for operating the clutch, a control valve for saidpower means, a manually operable control means, means interconnectingsaid manually operable means, control valve and throttle,

ing means for eiIecting a conjoint operation of the throttle and valveand further comprising means for operating the throttle independently ofsaid control valve whereby the relative timing of the operation of thepower means and the acceleration of the engine may be controlled at thedependently, successively or concurrently operwill of the driver. atedin the willbf the driver. IIENRY LOYD PIKE.

'I. In an automotive vehicle provided with a i 'DISCLAIMER2,086,364.-Henry Loyd Pike Hampton, Va. An'rom'rio Crimson. Batent dated1937.- Dis er filed November 7, 1938, by the ass1gnee, Bendw Productsalien. j A Herebov enters this disclaimer to'daims 1 and 8 of saidpatent.

. fliczcl Gazette December 6, 1.938.]

and comprisoperable for any one 01 member and the throttle.

name such changes as properly fall within the scope of the appendedclaims.

Having described the invention what ls cla.imed' 1. In a motor operatedvehicle including an engine and a clutch for connecting the engine withthe drive shalt oi the automobile, suction controlled means operatlvelyconnected with the clutch and the intake manifold of the engine tooperate the clutch, loot operated means to control the operation of thesuction operated means, and means connecting the ioot operated meanswith the throttle valve of the engine to operate said throttle valvesimultaneously with or independently of the clutch.

2. In an automotive vehicle provided with a clutch and aninternal-combustion engine having a throttle, power means for operatingthe clutch, a control valve for said power means, and common meansiorindependently, concurrently or successively operating the throttle andcontrol valve.

3. In an automotive vehicle provided-with a clutch and aninternal-combustion engine having a throttle, power means for operatingthe clutch, a control valve for said power means, and a manuallyoperable member positively interconnecting the throttle and valve andselectively independent, concurrent or successive operations of saidthrottle and valve to thereby synchronize, at the will of the driver,the speed of the engine and the operation of the clutch.

4. Control mechanism for an automotive vehicle provided with aninternal-combustion engine, a throttle therefor, and a clutch, andcomprising in combination therewith power operated means ior operatingthe clutch, said means com; and valve means or. and means, operable bythe loot oi the'driver, for selectively controlling either the operationot'the throttle, or the ens oi the clutch, or the clutch totherebyeflect operations of the internal-combustlonengine and clutch.

In an automotive vehicle provided with a member and' said valve, andother said manually operable provided with a means for operatallyoperable means interco 6. In an automotive vehicle clutch and athrottle, power ing the clutch, a control valve tor.said power means, afoot operated -member, a link means interconnecting said member andthrottle, and other link means interconnecting said member and valve.said parts being so constructed and arranged that the throttle and valvemay be ina. throttle, clutch, said power means comprising a controlvalve,

8. In an automotive vehicle provided with a clutch and aninternal-combustion engine having a. throttle, power means for operatingthe clutch, said Power means comprising a control valve, and means foroperating the throttle and valve comprising a manually operable bodilyand angularly movable member.

9. In an automotive vehicle provided with a clutch and aninternal-combustlon' engine having a throttle, power means for operatingthe clutch, said power means comprising a control valve, and means foroperating the throttle and valve comprising an angularly movable,manually operable and slidably mounted member connected at one end tothe throttle and at its other end to the valve.

10. In an automotive vehicle provided with a clutch and aninternal-combustion engine having a throttle, power means for operatingthe clutch, said power means comprising a control valve, and means foroperating the throttle and valve comprising treadle means, the 'toeportion of which is operable to actuate the throttle and the heelportion of which is simultaneously oper- 11. In an automotive vehicleprovided a clutch and an internal-combustion engine havpower means foroperating the valve, and means for operating the throttle and valvecomprising a one-piece, manually operable member pivotally movable aboutits upper end to eflfect a clutchdlsengaging operation of the valveandbodilymovable to open the throttle a'nd eftect a c1utch eng i goperation of the valve.

- 12. In an automotive vehicle provided with a clutch, an enginethrottle, power means for operating theclutch, a control valve for saidpower means, a manually operable control means, means interconnectingsaid manually operable means, control valve and throttle,

ing means for eiIecting a conjoint operation of the throttle and valveand further comprising means for operating the throttle independently ofsaid control valve whereby the relative timing of the operation of thepower means and the acceleration of the engine may be controlled at thedependently, successively or concurrently operwill of the driver. atedin the willbf the driver. IIENRY LOYD PIKE.

'I. In an automotive vehicle provided with a i 'DISCLAIMER2,086,364.-Henry Loyd Pike Hampton, Va. Au'rom'rio Crimson. Batent dated1937.- Dis er filed November 7, 1938, by the ass1gnee, Bendw Productsalien. j A Hereboy enters this disclaimer to'daims 1 and 8 of saidpatent.

. fliczcl Gazette December 6, 1.938.]

and compris-

